The National Football League and the NFL Players Association have agreed to halt the league's new policy that aimed to stop NFL players from taking a knee during the national anthem before games. The new rules required every player and staff member on the field to stand while the Star-Spangled Banner is played. Players would have been allowed to stay in the locker room if they did not wish to stand.
The Players Association filed a grievance against the policy in early July, and the two sides have been working together to come to an agreement over the contentious issue.
The league and the players association issued a joint statement saying the two parties will continue to work together at "finding a solution to the anthem issue through mutual, good faith commitments."
The NFL and NFLPA, through recent discussions, have been working on a resolution to the anthem issue. In order to allow this constructive dialogue to continue, we have come to a standstill agreement on the NFLPA’s grievance and on the NFL’s anthem policy. No new rules relating to the anthem will be issued or enforced for the next several weeks while these confidential discussions are ongoing.
The NFL and NFLPA reflect the great values of America, which are repeatedly demonstrated by the many players doing extraordinary work in communities across our country to promote equality, fairness and justice.
Our shared focus will remain on finding a solution to the anthem issue through mutual, good faith commitments, outside of litigation.
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